At midnight, Hanyue and Dongpo went to Bairan's courtyard from the back side. They saw her standing by the window in her room and she carefully hanging the half of cloud-shaped pendant that she had hidden all this time on the window.
When she noticed them, she smiled and said, "I didn't know Master Pei would come as well. Forgive my poor hospitality for not welcoming you properly."
Standing outside, Hanyue smiled lightly and said, "It's alright."
Dongpo, unable to resist his curiosity, asked, "Miss Lin, why are you hanging this pendant?"
Bairan replied seriously and said, "To catch evil spirits. The Lin household has too many of them."
Dongpo's eyes widened in surprise. Said in disbelief, "Really?"
Hanyue shook his head with a quiet laugh. He knew Bairan was only teasing Dongpo.
Bairan chuckled softly as she sat down on the chair, adjusted the brush between her delicate fingers and said, "Now, can you please tell me what you've found? Make it Quick, before Bao'er wakes up."
Dongpo immediately began his report as he said each name and information he gathered. Bairan's fingers slowly circled their names, stroking around them with her brush.
Madam Luo: Her family was once poor, but after she gained favor, their situation improvise. Two weeks ago, her elder brother even bought a place to start a business.
According to the servants, she sometimes gives rewards to maids and servants who bring her good news. However, she isn't an evil mistress-she doesn't mistreat them and manages the Lin household well.
Ruomei: She always stays close to her maids. Madam Luo is strict with her; she knows that for Master Lin, an important thing is his reputation, so she doesn't let her be away from home and she rarely goes out. She's a little aloof toward people and doesn't have many friends.
Qing'er:she has an old mother and a younger brother at home. She sold herself into service three years ago to earn money for her mother's treatment. During the years she served Ruolan, she was always by her side and she had friendships with maids in other courtyards.
Young Master Lu: He lives by himself in the capital after winning imperial examinations, but he visits his family here from time to time and each time visits the Lin family as well, except the last time. He returned months ago but didn't come; he only sent a letter through his servant, saying he was busy but he would visit next time.
Ruoyu: Her mother is a gentle concubine living in a shabby courtyard on the north side. They didn't have any maids to serve them. During the month Ruolan was missing, she went out many times, secretly looking for her with Qing'er.
When she finished the last stroke, Bairan quietly set down her brush. One hand supported her chin while the other tapped the table in a slow, rhythmic pattern. Regarding the names on the paper.
Han Yue's gaze lingered on her for a moment - why something in her expression that reminded him of His Highness whenever he sank into deep thought?
But he had not come here tonight merely to watch her ponder over the Lin family's affairs. He was here to find out whether she had anything to do with Gangwe's escape or not.
He said, "Miss Lin, I came tonight to ask you to clear up something."
Bairan stopped tapping her fingers. She adjusted her hand under her chin as she arched a brow and gave him a smirk and said, "Why return to such formality? If there's anything Master Pei wanted me to make clear, I'll do my best."
Hanyue's eyes did not waver. Asked calmly, "Do you remember the man we arrested?"
Bairan gave a slight nod.
Hanyue added, "He escaped,".
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Only the wind moved the tree branches gently.
If it weren't Bao'er sleeping next door; Bairan wanted to laugh out loud. She put her hand over her mouth, laughed softly, She said, "Escaped? Sorry for being rude, but did Master Pei think I'm the one who helped him?"
At her words, Hanyue's face stayed the same, but Dongpo felt surprised to hear such a careless answer.
Hanyue smiled faintly. Said, "Did my though make Miss Lin laugh?" continued as he glanced at the hanging pendent. Then said, "Why isn't possible for you to help him, when your mind isn't easy to guess "
Bairan leaned back in her chair, moonlight casting a soft light on her figure. She said jokingly, "Master Pei, it's not only my head; there are so many things in life hard to guess. However, I thought even if we didn't have complete trust between us, at least it's enough to provide this misunderstanding."
Hanyue's lips curved faintly as he said, "If it wasn't enough, Miss Lin, why would I only come to ask?"
Bairan's eyes gleamed with a teasing light and, smiling, said, "Is that so? Then perhaps you came to test me instead?"
Dongpo glanced between the two, though; they were just chatting. Why did he feel like they were battling?
Finally, Bairan rose from her seat, her voice floating lightly through the night. "That man's escape... I heard it right here from you. And I didn't have any clue about it. If you came all the way to dig news about him from me, then I must disappoint you."
Hanyue lowered his gaze for a moment; he said with a meaningful tone, "Disappointment is always better than betrayal."
Bairan's smile deepened and said happily, "What a coincidence; I have the same thought."
Seeing her didn't act scared or even sad to suspect her.
Hanyue said gently, "Forgive me for thinking of you that way; I remembered little bunny cut part of that letter, so I thought maybe there are some secrets you don't like to share with us."
Bairan chuckled softly. "Master Pei, we all have things we don't want to share. If you call that a secret, then yes, I may have one. But you and your master seem to have many more." She added gently, "But be certain, my bunny kept that secret only because it concerns my reputation - it has nothing to do with that man's escape."
She amazed Hanyue with her calm, unhurried grace.. She simply said she had secrets but reminded him they had more.
He couldn't tell if she was being honest or simply clever enough to twist the truth in her favor.
He warned calmly, "That man had a connection with Shen Yueran, so, Miss Lin, if there's even a thread of connection between you and him, I won't be able to protect you again."
Bairan said casually, "It won't happen. "
She wasn't interested in the matter yet, she thought, "Let's complete the Lin family affairs first." Then she could start where they were working.
Hanyue looked at her with interest and added, "What if your father also got hold of some parts of the suspension? If we really need your help, Miss Lin, would you lend us a hand?"
Bairan smirked slightly. "Why not? Master Pei's suspension is meant to protect people. Of course, I'll do my best."
Hanyue was left speechless. Does she truly not care about her own father? He couldn't quite understand her true nature. His expression changed into a thoughtful glance.
But Bairan didn't care.
She turned to Dongpo and said warmly, "Thank you for your hard work. Keep an eye on Young Master Lu, and let me know immediately if anything unusual happens."
Dongpo grinned and clasping his hands, said, "Yes, I will."
Then turned to Hanyue and said again, respectfully, "It's late, Master Pei. You go rest. I will remember your words carefully."
Hanyue nodded gently and turned to leave.
He took a step but paused and said without looking back; "Sometimes, Miss Lin, I can't tell if you're too honest or too good at pretending to be."
Bairan laughed softly behind him and said, "Even if I said it now, it won't be counted; Hope Master Pei soon finds the right answer."
As she finished her words, she suddenly remembered something and called softly, "Ah, right-I almost forgot, how's your master's headache?"
Her voice was light, yet Cause Hanyue and Dongpo paused in their tracks.
---
The one Bairan asked about was sitting in silence within the darkened room in the main courtyard. His headache wasn't improving at all. It was even getting worse. The red ribbon was resting between his fingers, him absentmindedly touching it repeatedly, and the other hand tapped the table continuously.
Tonight, after seven years, there was another woman on his mind besides Xinyi. After today, his thoughts kept drifting back to Bairan's face earlier today - her gentle smile toward Baian, her composed indifference toward her family, and the faintly cold politeness she showed her fiancé. He compared her to Xinyi.
Xinyi loved her family deeply, and she carried every relationship with sincerity and responsibility. But this woman... her memory loss can't be the reason for her remaining so unaffected toward her own kin, what's more; did she truly care for a servant boy she met by accident?
He tightened his grip on the ribbon; he wanted to see what kind of person she truly was. But why? He wasn't sure anymore.
What was he searching for in her? The same qualities Xinyi once had? Or did he want to see her act differently so that he could stop comparing her to Xinyi? He is already mistaken dared compared her to his Xinyi?
The veins of his forehead were obviously visible, yet he closed his eyes slowly and, smelling the red ribbon, whispered her name in a hoarse voice, "Xinyi."
The night breeze gently made his ribbon move and drafted a faint scent of jasmine away through other corners of the Lin's courtyard.
On the shabby side, the matches were flaming out, but the owner was still waiting in the dark night.
Ruoyu sat there, her fingers twisting the edge of her silk handkerchief again and again, her gaze flickering toward the door each time she heard the faintest sound outside.
When she heard light footsteps finally echoing in the corridor, she rose quickly, her heart beating wildly.
Moments later, she finally saw a familiar figure appear under the moonlight-it was her elder sister's fiancé, Young Master Lu.
When his gaze locked with hers, he clenched his hand into a fist.
Ruoyu took a few hesitant steps forward, her soft voice sounded as she said, "Y-Young Master Lu... you really came."
Lu Yichen strode closer and gripped Ruoyu's wrist tightly. This made her hiss, but she didn't dare to cry out.
He clenched his teeth and said in a low voice,
"Did you say anything to A'Rou?"